Arsenal extend technology partnership

Arsenal have extended and expanded their partnership with Chinese company BNN Technology.

The new deal will run until the end of the 2019/20 season and grants the technology, content and services provider with exclusive rights, including the opportunity to build on its ‘Coaching the Coaches’ programme which was launched during the 2016/17 season.

In turn, the organisation will provide the club’s fans in China with more behind-the-scenes footage, having been granted access to Arsenal's first team players during their pre-season tour of Shanghai and Beijing.

Additionally, as part of the expanded agreement BNN will be able to set up and operate an official Arsenal store on the Tmall platform in China, through which supporters will be able to purchase official merchandise, along with official training and replica kits.

“We are delighted to have extended and expanded our relationship with BNN Technology, which further demonstrates our commitment to China,” said Vinai Venkatesham, Arsenal’s chief commercial officer. “We understand the power football has to engage and inspire across all ages and through working with BNN we can support the growth of grassroots football in China further through their ‘Coaching the Coaches’ programme.­We’­re looking forward to seeing this next stage of the partnership flourish.”

Darren Mercer, chief executive of BNN Technology, added: “We are delighted to now become Arsenal’s exclusive ‘Coaching the Coaches’ partner in China, further expanding our relationship with one of Europe’s most successful clubs. This development will accelerate our activities supporting China’s football ambitions, while also delivering first class content to our online channels and gaining further high quality data to utilise across our other sales platforms.”